While waiting in one of my numerous doctors-dentists-oralsurgeon's-offices, I happened to pick up a copy of Bicycling magazine.
Flipping through, I came across a story about an organization that is giving away 50 bikes in several cities this summer: BikeTown.
The Web site is here. You have to write an essay, and the program only operates in several cities, and I'm guessing there are judging criteria (though I couldn't find them), but whatevah! This is a cool program!
Here's the history, which apparently began, like most save-the-world ideas, in California.
About 15 years ago, long before he was primarily known as a wonkish proponent of utility cycling, or the idea that bikes should be ridden to get somewhere rather than for sport, Joe Breeze was downing beers at a party in Northern California...when someone asked, just making party conversation, "Can bikes really save the world?"
"Wrong question," Breeze said. With a hand holding a red plastic beer cup he gestured around the room at the cycling cognoscenti.
"The real question is how can we get enough people on bikes to save the world?" ...
Change lives? You bet. Change the world? ...
If you're in one of the target cities (alas, not I), who knows, you just might qualify. Check it out.
7 comments:
When they start giving out Harleys, I'll get in line ... until then, I'll stick with pounding the pavement.
Cool idea:-)
Nothing as cool as that would ever come to Iowa :-) (and no, Boise (one of the cities) is not in Iowa - we grow corn, not potatoes, people)
What an excellent PSA. Great story, too.
FREE bike?! How cool!!
I submitted my essay. Keep your fingers crossed!
Well written article.
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